The northeast monsoon, locally known as Amihan, is projected to surge in the next few days and is likely to bring rains and cloudy skies over the majority of the country, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday.
“Nakikita natin ang muling pagbugso ng Northeast Monsoon, simula Miyerkules hanggang Biyernes sa malaking bahagi ng bansa [We are seeing a renewed surge of the northeast monsoon from Wednesday to Friday across a large part of the country],” Charmagne Marie Varilla, PAGASA’s weather specialist, said during the agency’s 5:00 p.m. weather advisory.
She said the northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with occasional rains over the whole of Luzon, especially the eastern portions of Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon.
Areas affected include Metro Manila, the Bicol Region, and Legazpi City.
Meanwhile, in large parts of the Visayas, the same weather conditions are expected from Wednesday to Thursday.
However, on Friday, Ms. Varilla said the shear line — the convergence of colder winds from the northeast and warmer winds from the easterlies — is forecast to resurge, especially over the eastern parts of the Visayas.
“Magdadala yan ng mga katamtaman hanggang sa malalakas na pag-ulan [This will bring moderate to heavy rains],” she said.The same weather conditions due to the shear line are expected over parts of Mindanao, such as Metro Davao, the Davao Region, Caraga, and Cagayan de Oro City.
In the rest of Mindanao, including Zamboanga, short-lived and scattered rains are expected.
No low-pressure area (LPA) is being monitored by PAGASA during the forecast period and this is expected to remain the case until Feb. 22, the agency’s Tropical Cyclone Threat Potential bulletin said.
However, between Feb. 23 and March 1, a tropical cyclone-like vortex may form offshore east of the Visayas and Mindanao.
PAGASA said it will monitor the projected weather disturbance to determine whether it will develop into a tropical cyclone. — Edg Adrian A. Eva